Early this morning, an epic religious
trek across the streets of Metro Manila began all over again. From its starting
point at the Quirino Grandstand, the Traslacion
of the Black Nazarene once more made its slow and steady way back to its
Minor Basilica, or Quiapo Church, with a throng of fervent devotees that are
either praying for miraculous blessings, or performing thanksgiving for
answered prayers. It is an incredible spectacle considering this Thursday was
not the Nazarene’s feast day but merely the commemoration of its transfer to
Quiapo from its former home in Intramuros.
Inquirer.net reports that it did not take very long after the start
of the Traslacion of the Black
Nazarene, just past 5 AM of January 9, for the scores of first aid volunteers from
the Philippine National Red Cross to have some work to do on the scene. Within
the initial hours these Red Cross personnel have reported providing first aid
to 300 devotees along the procession route. This figure is similar to those
that got medical attention at the start of the Traslacion in the years before. Cuts and bruises are the injuries
of the day, although heatstroke also becomes a concern as the procession goes
on into noon.
In addition to the medical
concerns of the faithful as they follow the Black Nazarene back to Quiapo,
there was also their security to consider, as thousands of officers from the
Philippine National Police (PNP) were deployed the whole length of the Traslacion route, which was slightly
altered from the traditional way due to several bridges being repaired. No
specific security threats were highlighted during the procession preparations,
although a suspected explosives expert aligned with Islamic terrorists in the
country was caught by authorities in the Metro Manila area just weeks before
the religious event.
The 2020 Traslacion also provided a splendid backdrop for some special
occasions among the devotees of the Black Nazarene. A Twitter page providing updates
on the procession back to Quiapo Church saw two 23-year-old Nazarene devotees
pledge to a more permanent union, as Kim Yamat proposed to his girlfriend Mary
Flores along the Traslacion route.
LOOK: Nazarene devotees get engaged amid #traslacion2020— Rosette Adel (@rosette_adel) January 9, 2020
Kim Noel Yamat, 23, said he had planned to propose to his girlfriend Mary Joie Flores, 23, on January 9, since they were both devotees of the Black Nazarene.
📸: @ManilaPIO / K R De Asis#Nazareno2020 @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/HVfQH35Sv2
But the dangers to the followers of the Black Nazarene as well as the centuries-old icon itself have not abated. As the andas carrying the Nazarene was winding along Hidalgo Street in the alternate route, the wooden cross that the Christ figure was carrying broke one of its arms. And still the procession went on. Waiting at the Quiapo Church are a further 132,000 devotees, awaiting the over 2-million strong crowd that followed the procession. Time estimates for the Traslacion run from 15 to 16 hours, so considering the past 5 AM start, barring delays, the Nazarene should be at the Quiapo Church by around 8 to 9 PM tonight.
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